[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 178 (Tuesday, September 15, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49337-49338]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-24622]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 082898B]


Marine Mammals; File Nos. 594-1467, 914-1470 and 772#69

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Receipt of applications and request to amend Permit No. 1024.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that two applicants have applied in due 
form for a permit to take marine mammals for purposes of scientific 
research, and a permit holder has requested an amendment to Permit No. 
1024. The applications are from:
    (File No. 594-1467): Georgia Department of Natural Resources, 
Nongame/Endangered Wildlife Program Coastal Office, One Conservation 
Way, Brunswick, GA 31520-8687;
    (File No. 914-1470): University of Southern Mississippi, Department 
of Biological Sciences, USM Box 5018, Hattiesburg, MS 39401; and
    (File No. 772#69): NMFS, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, 8604 
La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments must be received on or before 
October 15, 1998.

ADDRESSES: The applications and related documents are available for 
review upon written request or by appointment. (see SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION).
    Written comments or requests for a public hearing on these 
applications should be mailed to the Chief, Permits and Documentation 
Division, F/PR1, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West 
Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Those individuals 
requesting a hearing should set forth the specific reasons why a 
hearing on these particular requests would be appropriate.
    Comments may also be submitted by facsimile at (301) 713-0376, 
provided the facsimile is confirmed by hard copy submitted by mail and 
postmarked no later than the closing date of the comment period. Please 
note that comments will not be accepted by e-mail or by other 
electronic media.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ruth Johnson or Sara Shapiro 301/713-
2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permits are requested under the 
authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended 
(MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the Regulations Governing the Taking 
and Importing of Marine Mammals (50 CFR part 216), the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), the 
regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of 
endangered fish and wildlife (50 CFR 222.23), and the Fur Seal Act of 
1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
    Georgia Department of Natural Resources (No. 594-1467) requests a 
permit to conduct aerial and vessel surveys on Northern right whales 
(Eubalaena glacialis) in areas within and adjacent to the Southeast 
U.S. (SEUS) calving area critical habitat. The objective of the 
research is to determine right whale distribution in the SEUS as well 
as to determine if the present placement of the SEUS calving areas 
critical habitat requires revision. Opportunistic Level B harassment 
will be conducted on Atlantic bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), 
Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis), Pantropical spotted 
dolphin (S. attenuata) and humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae).
    University of Southern Mississippi (No. 914-1470) requests 
authority to import samples taken from captive animals. Samples will 
include fluids (serum or plasma, tears, sputum, feces, colostrum or 
milk, and bronchiolavage), and tissue samples (lung, spleen, kidney, 
ovary, testes, liver, lymph nodes, brain, and skin). Samples will be 
from Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, Pacific bottlenose dolphins, beluga 
whales, and Pacific white-sided dolphins. The objectives are to: 
establish standard cetacean cell lines for viral isolation and viral 
diagnostic studies; and isolate viruses from cetacean tissues.
    Southwest Fisheries Science Center (No. 772#69) requests amendment 
to Permit No. 1024 to capture 30 juvenile Antarctic fur seals 
(Arctocephalus gazella) over the next 3 austral summers, and to take 
blubber biopsy

[[Page 49338]]

samples from 150 of the 1000 pups already authorized to be taken.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an initial determination has been made that 
the activity proposed is categorically excluded from the requirement to 
prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.
    Concurrent with the publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register, NMFS is forwarding copies of this application to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.
    Documents may be reviewed in the following locations:
    Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13130, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301/
713-2289);
    (File Nos. 594-1467 and 914-1470): Regional Administrator, 
Southeast Region, NMFS, 9721 Executive Center Drive North, St. 
Petersburg, FL 33702-2432 (813/570-5312);
    (File No. 594-1467): Regional Administrator, Northeast Region, 
NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930, (978/281-9250); and
    (File No. 772#69): Regional Administrator, Southwest Region, NMFS, 
501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213 (562/980-
4001).

    Dated: September 8, 1998.
Ann D. Terbush,
Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-24622 Filed 9-14-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F